NPM Doctoral Research Support
To promote research on nonprofit, voluntary, philanthropic, and public organizations, NPM annually provides small grants of up to $1,500 to help support relevant research by doctoral students. Dissertation research or other research is eligible, as long as the student is the principal researcher on the project. Doctoral students in any department at the University of Michigan are eligible, including social sciences, humanities, and professional schools. The focus of the research can be local, national, or international. Funds may be used only for research-related expenses and may not be used for travel to professional conferences. Examples of relevant research foci include:
- Governmental organizations, policies, and programs at various levels
- Volunteers
- Philanthropy: foundations, charities, legislation, tax laws
- Congregations and houses of worship
- Nongovernmental organizations
- Advocacy organizations
- Nonprofit service providers
- Membership organizations (including unions and political parties)
- The nonprofit sector, subsectors, and cross-national comparisons
How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in NPM Doctoral Research Support. We are no longer accepting applications for 2009 Doctoral Research Support. The application package included:
- Application form
- Current curriculum vitae.
- A proposal describing your topic, research rationale, and research plans (not to exceed 3 pages).
- A one-page budget with justification for all significant expenses.
- A letter of support for your research project from a faculty member, submitted directly to NPM.
Applicants were notified mid-May as to whether they have been selected as an award recipient.
Doctoral Support Awardees for 2009
The Nonprofit and Public Management Center is pleased to support the following students during 2009.
Hima Mallampati, a doctoral student in Classical Art & Archaeology will analyze how the nonprofit structure of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston affected the acquisition of archaeological material and the extent to which these acquisitions were guided by legal restrictions and ethical concerns.
Zoe McLaren, a joint Public Policy and Economics doctoral student, received a grant to examine the impact on employment outcomes of a large-scale rollout of free AIDS treatment in South Africa.
Purvi Mehta, a doctoral student in Anthropology and History, will examine how dalit human rights NGOs rework the discourse of universal
rights to both empower and advocate for dalits who are experiencing castebased
subordination.
Dan Miller, a doctoral student in the School of Natural Resources and Environment, seeks to advance understanding of European donor perspectives on biodiversity conservation and the capacity of rural communities in Sahelian West Africa to adapt in the face of global climate change.
Kerri Nicoll, a Political Science and Social Work doctoral student, will explore the role of individual client attitudes regarding the causes of poverty (i.e. whether poverty is the result of individual life choices and actions or has broader structural causes) in the client’s decision to participate in and complete a job training program designed to alleviate poverty at Jewish Vocational Services - Detroit.
Amanda Tillotson, a joint Social Work and Political Science doctoral student, will use the federal housing policy as an example to examine the problems that rural nonprofits face in implementing policies that incorporate an urban problem paradigm.
Kimberly Wolske, a doctoral student in the School of Natural Resources and Environment, will develop an experimental study designed to help the City of Ann Arbor's Energy Office investigate strategies for effectively engaging citizens in community efforts to mitigate climate change.
If you would like to receive notification about other information of interest to doctoral students engaged in nonprofit and public management-related research, please send an e-mail request to nonprofit@umich.edu.
